Track-circuit closer.



Patented Apr. 3, |900. S. L. NEELY.

TRACK CIRCUIT CLCSER.

(Application led May 10, 1899.\

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

muel%ely) 1999.9@

S. L. NEELY.

TRACK CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Patented Apr. 3, |900.

(Application led My- 10, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

y(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL L. NEELY, OF PIERRON, ILLINOIS.

TRACK-CIRCUIT CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f LetterS Patent N 0. 646,454, dated April. 3, 1900.

Application filed May 10, 1899. Serial No. 716,272. (No model.)

will close a circuit, including an electromechanical alarm, and in which said circuit will be closed from one direction only, thus preventing the sounding of an alarm after a'train has passed the danger-point.

A further object of my invention` is toprovide means for retaining the track mechanism in an operative position with respect to thetrack-rail and also to provide means for supporting a conductor beneath the tread of a rail, thus eliminatingthe necessity for poles or other expensive supports. 25

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure l is a view showing a signal system equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of a rail with my track mechanism in circuit with a signal or alarm. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the track mechanism with the side of the casing removed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a rail and my mechanism with the cover of the casing removed. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig.

2 looking to the right.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 2, showing the retainingflange on the tread-piece. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 2 looking to the right.

Referring now to the drawings, in operating in accordance with my invention I form a casing of a height suitable to allow it to fit between the iiange and the overhanging tread of a rail and of a sufficient width to accommodate my mechanism.

Upon the base a of the casing and adjacent to each end thereof I secure a metallic plate b and o, respectively, having their farther ends turned upwardly at right angles, as shown at c and d, these upturned ends having horizontal projections or 'lugs e and j' formed thereon and projecting toward each other. Slidably connected with the upper surface of each plate b and c is the end of Va spring-strap g', of substantially inverted-U shape, with its ends turned outwardly in a common horizontal plane, the distance between the points of outward turning of the ends being somewhat less than the distance between the plates l) and c, andl the height of the strap being sufiicient to cause it to pro wardly. to lie parallel with the extensions cy vand d of `the plates h and o and Vhave upon their outer faces lugs Z and m upon a com.

mon aXis'with the lugs e and j", respectively.

' A helical sprin g n isarranged with its ends inclosing the lugs e andZ and tends to hold their respective projections. apart, a second similar spring 0 being arranged upon lugs m and ffor a like purpose. Thus it will be seen that if the strap g is moved in either direction longitudinally of its casing and is released it will immediately assume its normal position, due to the iniiuence of the springs 'n and o. Adjacent the plate c is a support p,

of insulating material, upon which are see cured plates r and s, having projecting contact-pieces t and u, adapted for engagement by a contact-pin w, passed through the support p and adapted to move in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of the lug m. A lateral projection o is formed upon the adjacent upturned extremity of the strap g and extends in a position to engage the head of the pin w, so that as the strap g is moved in the direction of the lugfthe pin w will be pressed into engagement with contact-pieces t and u and.l will electrically connect said pieces. As the strap g is returned under the influence of the spring o it releases the pin w, which latter is returned to its normal position through the medium of au inclosing helical spring bearing at one end against the adjacent face of the support p and at the other IOO ' upon a washer 7/ upon the pin and held in ing a perforation g adjacent its upper end,`

through which the wires a b are passed, thus forming a cheap and effecti ve support for the wires directly beneath the tread of the rail and in a position to protect them from abrasion. i.

Referring,r now more particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings, in order to hold the casing of'my mechanism fixedly against the side of the rail-web I employa clamp having a- T- shaped serrated head L, which engages the outer face ot' the casing and from which head the clamp is extended downwardly to a point below the flange of the rail, then laterally beneath the rail 1o a point in` the plane of the opposite face of the web, then upwardly and around the adjacent portion of the rail-flange, and finally vertically against the face ofthe rail-web on the side opposite the casing. A holt passed through the vertical portions of the clamp below the rail is provided with a nut i', through the medium of which-the serrated head h'isdrawn frml into engagement ,with the casing.

The operation of my construction is as follows: Referring more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the mechanism shown is designed to close avcircuit when a train is moved from left to right and to maintain an open circuit when the train is movingin the oppositedirection, it being understood that this mechanism is, located to be operated in advance of the danger-point. A train approaching from the lef't the tread of its wheel will strike the point Z of the strap g and will force the strap downwardly an'd in the direction ot' plate c. The downward forcing of the strap g causes the strap to impinge the adjacent edge of plate b and causes the adjacent end of the strap to rise slightly and impinge the retaining-strap c', such impingement otering an amount of'frictionsuiiicient to prevent retrograde movement of the strap g. The upward curve ot' strap g and its position with respect to its coperative parts are such that the resultant motion of the opposite end of the strap is substantially horizontal, so that there is no excessive friction between the strap and its keeper, and the projection c, engaging the pin w, is enabled to move the latter to complete the circuit between the contaetst and u, and thus energize whatever form of alarm or signal may be included in the circuit of the contact-pieces.

l the casing. to completely fill the slot through which the When the train has passed beyond my mechan ism, the strap will be returned to its normal position by the springs `n and o and by its own elasticity, while spring a; will withdraw the pin w from the contact-pieces t and a. Conversely, as a train approaches from the opposite direction-t'. e., from right to left-its wheel willengage the point m' of the strap g and in depressing that portion of the strap will rstcause impingement between the strap and the plate c and keeper 7c, thus preventing movement of the pin w to close the circuit between the pieces tand u, and as the wheel further depresses the strap its opposite end will be moved through its keeper i and against the action of the spring n. it will rise under the influence of its own elasticityand will assume its normal position through 4the medium of springs n and o. Thus it will be seen that with my mechanism the circuit, including the contact-pieces tand u, will be closed only when the train is moving ina predetermined direction. The casing is provided witha cover 0', having a slot p', through which the strap g projects, the inclosure of the upwardly-extending portion ol' the strap being filled by a web of", of wood or other suitable material,` acting as a follower for the strap and extending to a point within This web is of a width sufficient `Strap projects and isprovided with a laterallyextending iiange s to limit its upward movement.- With the employment of this filling access' of foreign matterto the casing is prevented. a

In practice I may make that portion of the strap which projects beyond the rail sufficiently long to reach from one truck to another in a train, so that there will be a continuous depression and a continuous closing of the 0perating-circuit from the time the iirst wheel strikes the strap until the last wheel has left it. Also I mayalsev a plurality of my mechanisms so that an alarm or signal will be operated a corresponding number of times during the approach of a train, and I may employ my track mechanism to close a simple or a compleX circuit,whether it be complete metallic or a grounded circuit and may use my mechanism in whatever manner and Wherever it may be applicable. Also I may vary the specific construction and arrangement herein shown and described, and I may employ whatever materials I may deem expedient without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A device of the class described, comprising a base, a plate upon the base, a second plate upon the base and separated from the first plate by an interspace, a 'spring-strap having an upwardly-extending portion and outwardly-turned ends slidably connected with said plates and continuing inwardly beyond the inner edges thereof, said strap bc- As the last wheel leaves the strap IIO ing adapted to be depressed between the plates to xedly impinge the first plate and slide over the second plate and then to impinge the second plate and slide over the first plate, under the influence of a rolling pressure traveling alternately in opposite directions, keepers secured to the plates and inclosing ends of the strap, electrical terminals carried by a support adjacent the strap, and means connected with the strap for bridging said terminals. v

2. A device of the class described comprising a base, plates secured to the base and separated by an interspace, an inverted-U- shaped strap having its ends turned outwardly and connected slidably with said plates through the medium of keepers, said outward turns lying between the plates, said plates having upward extensions, springs arranged between said extensions and the ends of the spring-strap, one of said ends having a lateral projection, a slidable contact-pin engaging said projection, and contact-pieces in the path of said pin and adapted to .be bridged thereby, substantially as specified.

In a device of the class described, the

combination with a casing, of a spring-strap passed through an opening in the casing, a circuit-closer within the casing "and operatively connected with said strap, said strap being adapted to rise-and fall through the slot in the casing, and a follower carried by the strap and acting to maintain the closure of said slot, substantially as specified; v

4. The combination withv a rail anda body adapted for reception. between thetread and the ange of the rail, of a clamp having a -'adapted to be bridged thereby,

laterally-extending head engaging the body, said clamp extending from the headv downwardly and partly beneath Jthe rail-ange, then upwardly and over the adjacent portion of the ange and in engagement with the contiguous face of the rail-web, and means for drawing the upwardly-extending portions of the clamp toward each other, substantially as speciiied. v

5. The combination with a railway and a rail thereof, of a casing located intermediate the tread and ange of the rail, a spring-strap extending upwardly through an opening in the casing and projecting above the tread of the rail, said strap having its innerl ends turned outwardly in opposite directions and projected upwardly, the outwardly-projected portions slidabl y engaging bearing plates having upwardly-turned ends, springs arranged between the upwardly-turned ends of l the plates and the upward extensions of the strap ends to hold the strap normally in a predetermined position, said plates terminating intermediatethe extremities of the outwardly-turned ends,"a contact-pin slidably arranged adjacent the strap, operative connections between the strap and the pin, and contact-pieces in the path of kthe pin and substantially as specified.

' AIn testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two'witnesses. 

